Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, is expected to begin his second consecutive four-year term at an inauguration ceremony holding at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on Friday, 16 October 2026.
The ceremony, scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m., follows Oyebanji’s re-election in the 20 June 2026 governorship election, in which he secured 319,224 votes to emerge as the winner, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Oyebanji, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), defeated his closest challenger, Oluwole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 40,543 votes. Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) came third with 12,872 votes.
The governor’s second-term inauguration comes four years after he first assumed office on 16 October 2022, marking the continuation of his administration for another four years.
Focus on development.
Ahead of the inauguration, the state government outlined plans to intensify development efforts, with particular attention to healthcare, electricity, road infrastructure, water supply, agriculture, human capital development and economic opportunities.
The Chairman of the Second-Term Inauguration Planning Committee and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Oyeniyi Adebayo, said the administration intended to consolidate its first-term programmes while accelerating development across the state.
He disclosed that the theme of the inauguration was “The Good Work Continues”, reflecting the government’s stated intention to sustain existing initiatives and introduce further interventions to improve residents’ welfare.
According to the committee, the administration also plans to expand rural road development, with a target of delivering up to 1,500 kilometres of roads through various interventions, including partnerships with development organisations.
The government has identified infrastructure, agricultural productivity, access to essential services and economic growth as key areas requiring sustained attention during the second term.
Background to the inauguration
Oyebanji’s re-election followed the governorship election conducted across Ekiti State’s 16 local government areas on 20 June 2026.
INEC announced the final results on 21 June, confirming the APC candidate’s victory. Oyebanji and his deputy, Monisade Afuye, subsequently received their certificates of return from the commission on 23 June 2026, formally confirming their election for another term.
In preparation for the transition to the new term, the governor dissolved the State Executive Council on 12 October as part of the administrative process marking the end of his first term. The Secretary to the State Government, Habibat Adubiaro; the Chief of Staff, Niyi Adebayo; and the Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, were exempted from the dissolution.
The inauguration is expected to formally usher in the administration’s next phase, with residents and other stakeholders looking to the government to translate its policy commitments into measurable improvements in living standards, public services and economic opportunities.
